Barrel or tank stand



June 23, 1964 .1. E. GRAY BARREL OR TANK STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 5, 1961 INVENTOR. J AME. s E GRAY WZ 'WZMW 8 I ATTORNEYS June 23,1964 J. E. GRAY BARREL OR TANK STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1961PIC-3.5

INVENTOR. JAMes EGQAY ATTQIZNEYS ice,

3,138,273 BAL R TANK STAND James E. Gray,-tl5 W. Bijou, Colorado prings,Colo. Filed May 5, 1961, Ser. No. 198,976 3 Claims. ((311. 214-130) Thisinvention relates to supporting devices and, more specifically, theinstant invention pertains to support means for holding in storagebarrels, tanks, containers and similar receptacles for materials havingconsiderable bulk.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to pro vide a stand fora barrel or container, the stand being of'such type as to permit thecontainer to normally rest thereon with the longitudinal axis ofthecontainer preferably disposed in the horizontal plane.

A further object of this invention is to provide a barrel, container,receptacle or tank stand with means for tilting the barrel from theposition indicated in the immediately preceding paragraph to asubstantially upright position to facilitate removal of the containerfrom the stand.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in conjunctionwith the stand referred to immediately above, means for facilitating thetransportation of a barrel or container to or away from one or more or"the stands.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, theprovision of a plurality .of barrel or tank stands, arranged en banc, toreceive thereon barrels or tanks, and wherein the stands are pivotal insuch a manner as to receive the barrels or tanks in a normally uprightposition and to subsequently tilt or pivot in such a manner asto disposethe longitudinal axes of the barrels in a substantially horizontalplane.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a barrel ortankstand which is pivotally supported and equipped with means for.holding said barrel or tank in a plurality of preselected positions.

This invention has, as still another object thereof, the provision of asingle or multiple barrel or tank stand which is non-complex inconstruction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable inuse.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention willbecome more apparent from a consideration of the following specificationwhen read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which;

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a barrel or tank standconstructed in accordance with the present invention, FIGURE 1illustrating the component elements of the invention as supporting abarrel or tank in such position that its longitudinal axis lies in ahorizontal.

plane, and FIGURE 1 further illustrating in dotted lines, the positionof the component elements of the invention and of the barrel or tank asthe same is removed from the stand or placed thereon; FIGURE 2 is a topplan view of the barrel or tank stand shown in FIGURE 1, the barrelhaving been removed therefrom;

FIGURE ,3 is an end elevational view of the stand shown in FIGURE 1,FIGURE 3 being partly in cros section and being taken on, substantially,the vertical plane of line 33 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail crosssectional view, FIGURE 4being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail fragmentary crosssectional view, FIGURE 5being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the stand shown in FIGURE 1, FIGURE ,6illustrating the telescoped handle in its full-line extended position;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a-modification of i.

this invention and showing the barrel or tank stand in conjunction withconveying rollers; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 8 beingtaken substantially on-the vertical plane of line 88 of FIGURE 7,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, of thedrawings, reference numeral ltl designates, in general, a barrel or tankstand constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.The

stand it is seen to comprise a substantially U-shaped base 12 formed ofangle members 14, 16 and 13. Intermediate the ends of the angle members14, 18, are fixedly and rigidly secured the bases of a pair of isoscelestriangular supports 29, 22 which are held in rigid upright positionbymeans of a plurality of spacer rods 24, 26, 28 and 39. As is seen inthe drawings, the spacer rods 24, 26 and 28, 30 are vertically spacedfromone another, and that the pairs of spacer rods 24, 26 and 23, 3d aredisposed adjacentthe opposed sides of the supports 2t 22. As is seen inthe several figures of the drawings, the upper ends or apices of thesupports 29, 22 are rounded as at 32, 34, respectively,-and each of thesupports, adjacent their respective apices,.are provided with aplurality of slots 36, 38, respectively, which extend inwardly from theconfronting adjacent pair of sides of the supports 24 22. v

Reference numerals d0, 42'denote a pair of substantially triangularbed-supporting plates from the apices of which laterally project hubs 44(only one being shown),

the bosses extending away from one another .andter minating in reducedshanks 46. The shanks 46 extend through openings 48 (see FIGURE 5)formed ineach of the supports 29, 22 and are retained therein by meansof they nuts 5% and cotter pins 52. As is clearly seen in FIGURE 5, awasher 54 is interposed between the nut 59 and the adjacent .side of thesupport 22, and a similar washer 56 is interposed between the hub 44 andthe adjacent side of the support 22.

To the base ends of each of the bed-supporting plates All, 42 is welded,as at 58, an elongated semicylindrical cradle till.

Reference numeral 62 designates, in general, a substantially U-shapedbed formed from a single hollow tubular member. The bed 62 is seen toinclude a bight 64 from the remotely-disposed ends of which laterallyproject a pair of spaced, confronting and substantially parallel arms66, 68; Reference numeral 70 denotes a substantially inverted U-shapedbrace and barrel-retainer element which includes a bight 72 disposed invertically-' spaced relation with respect to the bight 64 and'isparallel thereto. The opposed ends of the bight 72 terminate indownwardly turned arms 74, 7,6 which are rigidly secured 'by anyconventional means to the corners-of the bed 62 formed at the junctionof the 'arms 66,68 with the bight 564. As is seen in the several figuresof the drawings, the arms 66, 68 are fixedly secured centrally of theirrespective opposed ends in the cradles 60 by meansof the bolt 78 and nut89.

Reference numeral 32 designates a substantially U- shaped hollow tubularhandle member comprising a bight 84 from the opposed ends of whichlaterally project in confronting spaced and parallel relation, a pair ofarms 36, 88 which are adapted to be telescopically received within thearms 66, 68. ,Referring'to FIGURES 2 and 4, it is seen that each of thetelescoped inner ends of the arms 86, 88 have an upwardly facing,longitudinally extending slot 90 formed therein which align with slots92 formed in'the arms 66, 68 when the handle 82 is in PatentedJune 23,1964:

its innermost position. With the handle 82 in its innermost position, areleasable detent 94 engages within the slots 90, 92 to releasably holdthe handle 82 in its position shown in full lines in FIGURES 1 and 2.The detents 94 are secured to each of the arms 86, 88 as at 96.

Reference numeral 98 indicates, in general, a substantially U-shapedlock lever which comprises a bight 100 from the opposed ends of whichproject laterally offset, spaced, parallel and confronting arms 102,104. The lever 98 is preferably formed of a solid metallic material andthe arms 102, 104, at their outer free ends, terminate in offsetsubstantially rectangular pawls 106, 108 which are adapted to releasablyand selectively engage, respec tively, within the openings 36, 38 formedin the supports 20, 22.

Reference numerals 110, 112 denote a pair of centrally apertured,substantially rectangular guide blocks which are rigidly secured to thearms 66, 68 adjacent the outer free ends thereof, and a second pair ofguide blocks 114, 116 which are similarly constructed are secured to thearms 66, 68 intermediate the ends thereof. The guide blocks are adaptedto receive therethrough and for reciprocation therein the arms 102, 104of the lever 98.

Reference is again made to FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and 6, wherein it is seenthat a helicoidal spring 118, 120 surround the arms 102, 104,respectively, of the lever 68 adjacent the free ends thereof and areinterposed between the pawls 106, 108 and the immediate adjacent ones ofthe guide blocks 114, 116 whereby the pawls are constantly biased formovement toward the supports 20, 22.

To serve a purpose to be described infra-adjustable stop lugs 122, 124are slidably mounted on the arms 66, 68, respectively, adjacent the freeends thereof. The lugs 122, 124 are held inadjusted position by means ofset screws 126, 128, respectively.

As has been previously stated, the stand has been especially designed tosupport barrels, tanks, containers and other types of receptaclesthereon in a substantially horizontal position. Such a receptacle isillustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3 and is seen to comprise an elongatedsubstantially cylindrical side wall 132 having a pair of opposed ends134, 136. The receptacle or barrel 130 is axially elongated and isprovided with an outside diameter greater than the lateral distancebetween the side arms 66, 68 of the bed 62. In the full line positionshown in FIGURE 1, the end 134 is shown as abutting against the bight 64and the base 70 with the side wall 132 extending parallel to the sidearms 66, 68. The stop lugs 124, 126 have been moved into engagement withthe end wall 136 and are secured in place by means of their respectiveset screws 126, 128. The container, tank or receptacle 130 is thus madesecure on its bed 62.

Now let it be assumed that it is desired to remove the receptacle 130from its bed 62. Preferably, the operator loosens the set screws 126,128 and moves the stop lugs 122, 124 away from the container-receptacle130 and thereafter grasps the bight 84 of the handle 82 and pulls thesame outwardly to cause the arms 86, 88, to move in a direction awayfrom the arms 66, 68. The force in effecting this movement is sutficientto cause the detent 94 to be depressed below the opening or aperture 92due to the cam type configuration of the detent. With the handleextended to its full length position as shown in FIGURE 6 or the dottedline position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the operator then grasps thebight 100 of the locking means 98 and pulls the same towards the bight84 to effect a disengagement of the pawls 106, 108 from the lowermostones of the slots 36, 38. The handle 82 and bed 62 are now pivoted in acounterclockwise direction, reference being made to FIGURE 1 of thedrawings, until the receptacle 130 reaches the position indicated at130'. During this swinging movement, the pawls 106, 108 may ride on theapices 32, 34 of the supports until the pawls engage within theuppermost ones of the slots 36, 38 due to the tension of the springs118, 120. The bed 62 is now locked in the dotted line posi- 4,. tionshown in FIGURE 1, and the receptacle is now illustrated at as referredto above. The operator subsequently tilts the receptacle 130 to thedotted line position indicated at 130", using the bight 72 as a fulcrum.The barrel is then rolled or otherwise disengaged from the bights of thetube by manual or mechanical means.

Thereafter, and if so desired, the arms 86, 88 of the lever or handle 82may again be telescoped within the arms 66, 68.

To load the bed 62, it is only necessary to reverse the order of thesteps set forth above.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate a second embodiment of this invention andcomponent elements thereof finding counterparts in the above firstdescribed embodiment have been assigned the same reference numerals towhich a prime mark has been ascribed in order to differentiatetherebetween.

In the second embodiment, reference numeral 200 designates, in general,an elongated substantially rectangular base frame which comprises a pairof longitudinally extending angle iron side frame members 202, 204 and apair (only one being shown) oppositely disposed angle iron members 206which serve as end frame members. The side and end frame members,respectively, are parallel With respect to each other. A third anglemember 208 extends parallel to the frame members 202, 204 in laterallyspaced relation and is closer to the angle member 204 than to the anglemember 202. The base frame is completed through the provision of aplurality of intermediate angle members 210 which extend perpendicularlyto the angle members 202, 204 and have their 0pposed ends rigidlysecured thereto. As is ssen in FIG- URE 7, the angle members 210 arearranged in longitudinally spaced relation with respect to the anglemembers 202, 208.

To serve a purpose to be described, a plurality of elou gatedcylindrical rollers 212 are rotatably supported between the anglemembers 204, 208 with their respective axes of rotation perpendicularthereto.

Fixedly secured to and projecting above the frame members 206, 210 aresupports 20, 22 identically constructed with respect to the counterparts20, 22. As before, the apices are notched at 36', 38'. The support 20carries the same type of cradle 60' pivotally mounted thereon, but thesupports 22 carry a different cradle construction.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, it is seen that the bed supporting plate 42'is formed with a hub 44 having an elongated shank 46' which extendsthrough an opening 48' formed in the support 22. The shank 46 extendsbeyond the opposite sides of the support 22 and receives thereon the hub212 of the second bed supporting plate 214. To the plate 214 is secureda semi-circular cradle 216 having the same configuration as the cradles60. The cradles 60' and 216 are generally parallel, but since the plates42', 214 are mounted for rotation relative to each other, thelongitudinal axes thereof may be inclined relative to each other.

The embodiment of this invention shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8 is designedto accommodate a plurality of containers, tanks, or receptacles, enbanc. Hence, the same type of U-shaped beds 62' are provided, but inthis instance the intermediate support plates 22 support the side arms66', 68' of a pair of adjacent beds 62'. Also in this embodiment of theinvention, the U-shaped handle 82 has been discarded in favor of anL-shaped handle member 218 having a leg portion 220 adapted to betelescoped within each of the side arms 68 and a foot portion 222 whichis adapted to be grasped by the operator and extended or retracted inthe manner described above.

Each of the arms 66', 68' is also provided with the stop lugs 124',122', respectively, as described above, and each of the arms 68' isprovided with a pair of longitudinally spaced guide blocks 112', 116'through which extends an elongated arm 104 of a lock lever 98. The

arm 104, has, at one end thereof, a pawl 106' which is adapted to engagewithin one of the slots 36', 38 formed in the apices of the supports20', 22', in the manner previously described. The other end of the arm104' terminates in a handle 224 for manipulation in the same manner asthe bight 100. A helicoidal spring 120' surrounds the arms 104 and istangent to bias constantly the wall 106' into engagement with one of theslots 36, 38'.

Since the U-shaped handle 82 has been eliminated in the secondembodiment of this invention, it is necessary to provide means forpreventing the free ends of the arms 66', 68' from spreading under theinfluence of the weight of a barrel, tank or receptacle placed thereon.To this end, each pair of the arms 66', 68' is provided with a spanning,reinforcing rib 226 having a concave-convex configuration with theconcave side thereof facing upwardl-y.

In operation, a selected one of the handles 222 is grasped by theoperator and the arm 220 is moved to its extended position shown inFIGURE 7. The handle 224 associated with the selected handle 222 isoperated to disengage the pawl 106', and the bed 62 is then pivoted toits upwardly inclined position, in the manner described above. Thebarrel or receptacle 30 is then removed, as before, but in this instanceit comes to rest on the rollers 212 which afford easy transit to a givensite. To load the bed 62 it is only necessary to reverse the steps.

Having described and illustrated two embodiments of this invention, itis to be understood that the same were offered only by way of example,and that this invention is to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A stand for supporting barrels, tanks, receptacles and the like, saidstand comprising a base including a pair of side arms and asubstantially triangular support arising from each of said side arms andbeing disposed in spaced, parallel, confronting relation, said supportsadjacent their respective apexes having a plurality of slots formedtherein, a cradle for each of said supports, means pivotally supportingsaid cradles on their respective associated supports, an elongatedsubstantially U-shaped article supporting bed, said bed including abight from the opposed ends of which project a pair of laterally spacedsubstantially parallel arms, means fixedly securing said arms of saidbed intermediate their respective ends to said cradles, a lock leversupported on said arms for reciprocation longitudinally with respectthereto, said lock lever including a pair of arms slidably mounted onsaid arms of said bed, and a pawl mounted on a pair of adjacent ends ofsaid last-named arms for selective engagement within a preselected pairof said slots formed in said support.

2. A stand for supporting barrels, tanks, receptacles and the like, saidstand comprising an elongated substantially rectangular base including apair of side frame members disposed in laterally spaced andsubstantially parallel relation, and a pair of end frame members, athird frame member extending longitudinally between said side framemembers in spaced and parallel relation thereto, a plurality of rollersmounted between said last-named frame member and one of said side framemembers, said rollers having their respective axes perpendicular to thelongitudinal axes of said side frame members, a plurality of angle ironmembers extending between said last-named frame member and the other ofsaid said side frame members, said angle iron members being disposed inlongitudinally spaced relation relative thereto, a support arising fromeach of said end frame members and said angle members, a cradle mountedon each of said supports on said end frame members and a pair of cradlesmounted on each of said supports arising from said angle members, saidlast-named cradles being disposed on opposite sides of said support,each adjacent pair of said cradles being movable independent of theothers, an elongated substantially U-shaped receptacle bed for each pairof adjacent cradles, means for connecting said beds to said cradlesintermediate the ends of the former, said beds having bight portionspivotal towards and away from said rollers, and means for limiting thepivotal movement of said beds.

3. A stand for supporting barrels, tanks, receptacles and the like, saidstand comprising an elongated substantially rectangular base including apair of side frame members disposed in laterally-spaced andsubstantially parallel relation, and a pair of end frame membersdisposed in longitudinally-spaced and substantially parallel relation, aplurality of angle iron members extending between said side framemembers and having their opposed ends fixedly secured thereto, saidangle iron members being disposed in longitudinally-spaced relationrelative to said side frame members, a support rising from each of saidend frame members and said angle members, a cradle mounted on each ofsaid supports on said end frame members and a pair of cradles mounted oneach of said supports rising from said angle members, said last-namedcradles being disposed on opposite sides of said support, each adjacentpair of cradles being movable independently of the others, an elongatedsubstantially U-shaped receptacle bed for each pair of adjacent cradles,and means for connecting said beds to said cradles intermediate the endsof the former.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,175,739 Florer Mar. 14, 1916 1,220,640 Kelly Mar. 27, 1917 1,261,184Taylor Apr. 2, 1918 1,442,267 Gross Jan. 16, 1923 2,180,641 Milton Nov.21, 1939 2,321,814 Hick June 15, 1943 2,351,731 Abbott June 20, 19442,757,910 ONeill Aug. 7, 1956 2,910,304 Caylor Oct. 27, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 516,183 Belgium Dec. 31, 1952

2. A STAND FOR SUPPORTING BARRELS, TANKS, RECEPTACLES AND THE LIKE, SAIDSTAND COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BASE INCLUDING APAIR OF SIDE FRAME MEMBERS DISPOSED IN LATERALLY SPACED ANDSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION, AND A PAIR OF END FRAME MEMBERS, ATHIRD FRAME MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAMEMEMBERS IN SPACED AND PARALLEL RELATION THERETO, A PLURALITY OF ROLLERSMOUNTED BETWEEN SAID LAST-NAMED FRAME MEMBER AND ONE OF SAID SIDE FRAMEMEMBERS, SAID ROLLERS HAVING THEIR RESPECTIVE AXES PERPENDICULAR TO THELONGITUDINAL AXES OF SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF ANGLE IRONMEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LAST-NAMED FRAME MEMBER AND THE OTHER OFSAID SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, SAID ANGLE IRON MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED INLONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION RELATIVE THERETO, A SUPPORT ARISING FROMEACH OF SAID END FRAME MEMBERS AND SAID ANGLE MEMBERS, A CRADLE MOUNTEDON EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS ON SAID END FRAME MEMBERS AND A PAIR OF CRADLESMOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID SUPPORTS ARISING FROM SAID ANGLE MEMBERS, SAIDLAST-NAMED CRADLES BEING DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SUPPORT,EACH ADJACENT PAIR OF SAID CRADLES BEING MOVABLE INDEPENDENT OF THEOTHERS, AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED RECEPTACLE BED FOR EACH PAIROF ADJACENT CRADLES, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID BEDS TO SAID CRADLESINTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE FORMER, SAID BEDS HAVING BIGHT PORTIONSPIVOTAL TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM SAID ROLLERS, AND MEANS FOR LIMITING THEPIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BEDS.